A few environmental success stories

Reclamation of the old Merlemont Quarry

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Reclamation of the old Merlemont Quarry

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MOR/BSL has not

been rated « Natura

2000 »

Our old pits joined the Natura

2000 net

Merlemont quarry

The old quarries provide an interesting substitution natural habitats

Front walls exposed to south or north

Rocky screes

Sandy material piles

Permanent and temporary ponds

Dry calcareous grass land

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A good rehabilitation aims at:

Valorising those habitats (fauna & flora)

Maintaining the habitats trough the time = management of the reserve

In specific cases, taking actions to speed up the recolonization

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Some species present in our quarries :

• Faune : orvet (femelle gravide), Chouette hulotte, Lézard des murailles, azuré du trèfle, Grenouille verte, Couleuvre à collier, Hespérie de la mauve, Argus bleu-nacré, Stenobothrus lineatus, Erythrée élégante, Martin pêcheur, Lézard des murailles, Alyte accoucheur, Crapaud calamite, Criquet à ailes bleues, Machaon

• Flore : Bois gentil, Galeopsis à feuilles étroites, Epiaire des Alpes, Ceterach, Catapode rigide, Orchis de Fuchs, Genevrier, Plathantère des montagnes, Lastrée du calcaire, Platanthère des montagnes, Fétuque penchéé, Renoncule aquatique, Mouron bleu, Catapode rigide, Apipactis brun rouge, Gymnadénie moucheron épiaire, Epiaire annuelle, Chardon-Marie, Erythrée petite centaurée, Pullicaire dysentérique, Cornouiller mâle, Chardon penché, Renoncule des bois

7Bank swallows

Natterjack toad

Eagle Owl

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• Walls exposed to south

Habitats on the site that we try to preserve or extend

Tests to speed up colonization

Ground design for a future dry grass land

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Natural reserve

With the land planning modification, our old pits became a natural

reserve for 30 years rated Natura 2000

We have to finalize the rehabilitation of those old pits, to maintain the

natural reserve and to help the biological transfer between Bois Saint-

Lambert and the old pits at our own expense

The Nature and Forest Administration plans the maintenance

A steering committee will be soon take place (spring 2016), including

members of our company

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The integration of the future depleted pits is also studied

11Natural reserve (surface: 30ha)

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1994

Reclamation of the Ampsin quarry (Dumont-Wautier)

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Reclamation of the Ampsin quarry (Dumont-Wautier)

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Final pit design (1994)

How the quarry should have looked like at the completion of

mining

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The operation si stoped in 2002

North face collapsed in Feb 2002

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Mid 2004: A new reclamation project is set up with support of a

landscaping consultant

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End 2004: Presentation of

the project to the Town

It is decided to leave the

maintenance to the DNF but

with a close cooperation with

the Town and the DW

company

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The basic idea was to valorise

the area as it was let by the

mining activity

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Partly in free access and partly

guided by DNF visit

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The wish of the company :

Keep remains of the past activity

1950

1920

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The wish of the DNF :

Biodiversity, safety and legal use for at least 30 yrs

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The maintenance includes :

To keep wide open areas

To keep the variety of environments

Fight again woody vegetation

Fight again invasive species

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Some lessons from

this experience

Take into account the field realities and opportunities

Start as soon as possible the collaboration with the future

managers of the reserve

The biological enrichment is a slow process, good reason to

start it as soon as possible

Foresee a steering committee